What is Shellac Nail Polish?

You’ve probably seen the term “shellac nail polish” here and there before but do you know what it really is? A lot of people (me included!) have confused this term with gel nail polish- are they the same thing? What’s the difference? We’ll be answering all those questions in this article so please read on if you’d like to learn more! 🙂

What is Shellac Nail Polish?

Shellac is the brand name of a gel/polish hybrid product created by Creative Nail Design (CND) and are generally fairly interchangeable with “gel polish”. While the formula of shellac nail polish is generally a bit thinner than other brands of gel polish, they do last up to 14 days without chipping after being cured with a UV lamp.

So What’s The Difference Between Shellac Nail Polish and Gel Nail Polish?

There isn’t really a huge difference between the two- gel polish might be a little “thicker” to say, but even so it is very similar to Shellac. In a way, Shellac can be viewed as a “fancy” type of gel polish- it’s a specific formula created and sold by CND. Both gel and shellac nail polish are removed by soaking nails in an acetone solution. If you get your nails done at a salon, keep in mind that shellac nail polish may be a tad bit more expensive due to it being a specific brand.

CND Shellac Nail Polish Starter Trial Kit

The CND Shellac Chic Collection Starter Trial Kit has all the essential products to start your Shellac manicure or pedicure with great saving. It's less than $15 per bottle!

Can You Use Shellac Nail Polish At Home?

While shellac manicures are commonly done in nail salons, they can also be done at home. Shellac nail polish kits are a thing and can be easily found on Amazon (though they may be slightly more expensive than regular gel nail kits)! Similar to other brands of gel nail kits, Shellac DIY kits typically contain:

A bottle of top coat

A bottle of base coat

At least 1 bottle of Shellac polish color

UV lamp for curing

A bottle of acetone removal solution

A pack of orange wood sticks

⚠️ Tip: If you already own a previous DIY gel nail polish kit by another brand, you can just use the UV lamp from that! No need having two UV lamps, and you save yourself some moneys!

Pros and Cons of Shellac Nail Polish

Pros

Cons

Lasts up to 14 days without chipping

Generally more expensive than other gel polish

Dries very quickly with UV light

Requires a UV light

Can be done at home with a kit

Thinner than regular gel polish

96 different colors available

Less readily available in stores

To Summarize…

Using shellac nail polish is comparable to getting a gel manicure since they’re essentially the same thing. Is it worthwhile? Yes. Is it for you? Maybe. If it’s something you’re interested in I’d urge you to go ahead and give it a try! What’s the worse that could happen? ?

Are you a fan of shellac nail polish? Let us know in the comments below!

CND Shellac Top and Base Coat ~Set of 2

Two products that help to deliver 14+ days of flawless wear, superior color and mirror shine with zero dry-time and no nail damage!

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